William "Bill" Gavin (1924-2010) was a pioneer in the world of Civil War relic hunting.  Stephen Sylvia and Michael O'Donnell, in their book The Illustrated History of American Civil War Relics, credit Gavin as being the first to use a metal detector to search for Civil War relics - "The earliest confirmed account of use of a metal detector to locate Civil War relics occurred on November 25th, 1946 at the battlefield of Cold Harbor, Virginia.  The man with the machine was Lieutenant William G. Gavin..."  (p. 192).

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For more information on Bill Gavin and the relics that you will find on this page, see the information on the the first Bill Gavin relic page.

 This is a rare opportunity to acquire relics that were once a part of the collection of one of the hobby's pioneers (at least with the use of a metal detector), so don't miss out!

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ON THIS PAGE - THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG (MEADE'S ATTACK - HAMILTON'S CROSSING), BUNKER HILL, WEST VIRGINIA & MISCELLANEOUS IDENTIFIED RELICS

Most Recent Update - June 6th

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These relics were acquired in a riker case marked #97 which housed a variety of relics from different battlefields, each identified by one of Gavin's handwritten labels.  This is a group of 11 bullets that Gavin identified as being found at the Strand House in Petersburg. There are 7 dropped .58 bullets including one that looks like it may have been pulled.  There is a fired Gardner bullet, a fired Type III William's Cleaner, a fired .58 bullet and a dropped Starr Carbine bullet. I am not certain where the Strand House was or is located at Petersburg.  Research has not turned anything up on it yet.  The label, of course, will be included with the bullets.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information will be provided by the buyer.

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Item Number BG09708

This relic was acquired in a riker case marked #97 which housed a variety of relics from different battlefields, each identified by one of Gavin's handwritten labels.  This .58 caliber dropped Type II Williams Cleaner bullet (it still has dirt on it) was identified as having been found at the Wilderness.  The area known as the Wilderness, a dense and tangled area of woods which sat several miles to the west of Fredericksburg, Va., became the scene of the first battle of Grant's 1864 Virginia Campaign. The fighting was ferocious and the casualties were high with neither army gaining a decided advantage.  At one point a portion of the woods ignited in flames causing many wounded to succumb to the raging fire.  The label, of course, will be included with the bullet.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information will be provided by the buyer.

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Item Number BG09703

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  The octagonal brass barrel from a boot pistol. The pistol appears to have been about a .45 caliber.  The total length of the relic is 3 1/4 inches - the barrel is about 2 inches in length.  On the side is an E over an LG in a circle - this is a Belgian mark associated with the city of Liege.  The Bunker Hill camps were used by both Union and Confederate troops. Relics like this aren't coming out of the ground very often anymore.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02901

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  This is the throat to an artillery sword scabbard.  There is still a large chunk of the leather scabbard attached inside.  The relic measures 3 3/8 inches in length and is 1 7/8 inches in width.  It is a little bent and dented and there is a small split on one side at the seam.  Artillery swords only saw limited use during the war, so not many scabbard throats come out of the ground.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02906

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  A nice saddle shield from a McClellan saddle with "11 INCH SEAT" mark.  Overall, it is in nice condition, but one of the corners is bent up and there is a slight bend on another.   A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02902

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  This New York cuff button (15 mm) has a good bit of the gilt left on the face.  The backmark is not readable - but I have not tried to clean it either.  The face looks just a little bit flat at the dome, other than that it is in good condition.   A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02905

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  This Eagle "I" infantry button (20 mm) has no backmark. The button has a nice brown patina and is in very good condition.   A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02904

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  Dropped Washington Arsenal bullets in good condition - one of them (on the left) has been pulled.  I am selling these individually.    A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02908

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  Dropped .44 Colt Dragoon bullets in good condition.  I am selling these individually.    All of them have a small cavity but two.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02918

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  Dropped .54 caliber Gardner bullets in good condition.  I am selling these individually.    A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02912

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  A dropped Enfield bullet with a "57" mark in the cavity.   A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG02910

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  Two dropped Enfield bullets - one a long variety and one a shorter variety - both with a conical cavity.   The longer Enfield is 29 mm and the shorter one is 27 mm and has a slightly flattened nose.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG02911

From Case #29 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Bunker Hill, West Virginia.  Two .52 caliber Spencer bullets (one has some deterioration around the base) and a .54 caliber flat based Sharps bullet.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.

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Item Number BG02915

This relic was acquired in a riker case marked #97 which housed a variety of relics from different battlefields, each identified by one of Gavin's handwritten labels.  This bullet, which appears to have been carved and has no patina, was identified by Gavin with the label "Surrender House Dover, Tenn. Fort Donelson Battlefield."  The surrender house was the Dover Hotel.  The Hotel had been used by General Simon Buckner as his headquarters during the battle and, after the Confederate force at the fort had no choice but to surrender, it served as the meeting place of Buckner and Union General Ulysses S Grant to discuss terms (February 16, 1862).  There can't be too many relics from this site on the market. The label, of course, will be included with the bullet.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information will be provided by the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG09701

This relic was acquired in a riker case marked #97 which housed a variety of relics from different battlefields, each identified by one of Gavin's handwritten labels.  This .58 caliber dropped bullet (it still has dirt in the cavity) was identified as having been found at Lovejoy Station in Georgia.  Lovejoy Station was the site of a brief skirmish between Judson Kilpatrick's Union Cavalry and the Confederate infantry division of Patrick Cleburne on August 20, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign.  The label, of course, will be included with the bullet.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information will be provided by the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG09702

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  A very nice eagle breast plate with both iron hooks still present.  On the back is Gavin's original tape label - "FRED. HAMILTON'S CROSSING 1960".  The plate has almost all of its lead back and the lead is in good condition.  There is a small bend in the rim on the right side.  The plate has a pleasing brown patina.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07801

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  An eagle "I" button (20 mm) with no backmark. This button clearly has a soldier created "field repair" in the form of two small holes in the face - clearly an attempt to make the button useful after the shank fell out. It has a very nice brown patina.  No damage (other than the holes). A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07804

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  An eagle button (20 mm) with "EXTRA QUALITY" backmark. This button has a hole where the shield in the eagle's chest is located - it seems clear that it was punched through intentionally. This one has a very nice brown patina.  No damage (other than the hole!). A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07803

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  An eagle button (20 mm) with no backmark. This one has a very nice brown patina.  No damage. A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07802

SOLD!

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  An eagle button (20 mm) with no backmark. This one has an uneven green patina.  No damage. A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07805

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  An eagle button (22 mm) with no backmark. In general, it has a pleasing brown patina, but there are some green spots on the face.  No damage. A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07806

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  This eagle cuff button (15 mm) does appear to have a backmark, possibly "Waterbury", but it is difficult to read.  It has a brown patina.  There is a push in the face.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07807

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  This eagle cuff button (15 mm) appears to have an "EXTRA" backmark, but it is difficult to read.  It has a brown patina.  There is a push in the face.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07809

From Case #78 of the Bill Gavin Collection - recovered from Hamilton's Crossing / The Battle of Fredericksburg.  This eagle cuff button (15 mm) has a "WATERBURY BUTTON CO." backmark.  There is a long push in the face and a small push in the back.  A letter, signed by me, with provenance information and a copy of the photograph of the original display case will be provided to the buyer.  This item may be seen in case 52 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number BG07808